by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

Former San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith foretold there would be a "new era in Chargers football" if the team wasn't successful this past season.

That new era has officially begun with the hiring of a new general manager, Tom Telesco.

The Chargers announced they have hired Telesco, a member of the Indianapolis Colts' organization for the last 14 years and the team's director of player personnel since 2006. Telesco remained with the Colts last year when Bill and Chris Polian were fired. Telesco will be introduced by the Chargers at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Telesco's connections to Bruce Arians and Jim Caldwell will make them hot names in connection with the Chargers' search for a new coach, particularly with Arians, whose name has been connected to San Diego for a while now.

Arians, 60, is slated to interview with the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, though his recent trips to the hospital both in Baltimore on Sunday and in Indianapolis on Tuesday have muddled his schedule for the week a bit.